The Debaters - Should married couples renew their vows? And is living up North worth it?

Episode Date: September 11, 2025

We’re deciding if it makes sense to say “I do” all over again, and whether we should give living in the North the cold shoulder.Featuring: Charlie Demers, Erica Sigurdson, Gavin Clarkson, and Quincy Thomas.

Hugh is a rock climber, a white supremacist, a Jewish neo-Nazi, a spam king, a crypto-billionaire, and then someone killed him. It is truly a mystery. It is truly a case of who done it. Dirtbag Climber, the story of the murder and the many lives of Jesse James. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast. Hey Canada, are you ready for some cutting-edge comedy from the city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories?

It's the debater! The debaters where comedians fight with facts and funny and this audience picks the winner. Now here's a man who's a slice of something special, Steve Batesh. Hey, thanks Graham Clark. Hello, Canada. Welcome back to the debaters,

and it is great for us to be back here in Yellowknife. Yellowknife! A city with plenty to celebrate. Every year, there's the Snow King Festival, at the center of which is an ornate snow castle. The festival's founder, known as the Snow King, has overseen the construction for over 30 years. Yeah.

One year, a local child kept a chunk of ice from the previous year's castle in his mom's freezer and presented it to the Snow King. It was made into a work of art depicting two frozen hands cradling the chunk. True story. And bravo to that mom and child for convincing the Snow King that a random chunk of freezer ice was from a previous snow castle. Time now to meet two debaters who are sure to melt. your hearts. This comic used to gamble with lollipops until she got played for a sucker. It's Vancouver's

Erica Sigurtson. Erica Sigerton. Hello. Hi Erica. Welcome back. Thank you. And when this comic's wife argued with their contractor, he found himself aluminum siding with her. It's Vancouver's Charlie DeMess. Charlie. And Erica, Charlie and Erica. Your topic is one of those that I suspect was suggested to my producers by my wife, Nancy. Renewing your wedding vows. Should all couples do it?

At the time of this taping, Nancy and I have been married for 14 years, and she has asked every year of our marriage when we're going back to St. Lucia, where we got married, to renew our vows. But my argument is that you don't have to go to the place you were married to renew your vows. So I'm thinking about asking Nancy if instead of the Caribbean Islands, she comes up to these beautiful northwest territories to renew our boughs. Because Tukti Aktuk is the Caribbean of the far north.

I'm a little worried she might tell me to Tuktiaktukh myself. Time now for a debate that has a nice ring to it. So, whereas it's a romantic gesture that celebrates love, reaffirms commitment and kickstarts a new chapter, be it resolved all married couples should at some point renew their vows. Charlie, you are arguing for this, please, my friend. You have two minutes, starting now, Charlie DeMix.

Thank you, thank you very much. You know, Erica, we've been doing this show 20 years now. Pretty special. Is it easy to take it for granted sometimes? Sure. In all those years, you know, have I done any other shows? I'm not proud of it. But I always come back.

And when a man came along and threatened to take all this away, I stood up with my fellow countryman and I said, take a hike, mister, and don't come back till you're elected from a safe seat in Alberta. My wife, Kara, and I have been married almost 18 years. Thank you. A couple years ago on the 15th anniversary of our secular civil marriage ceremony,

and that's how I always describe our marriage. People say, how is it? I say, we're civil. We participated in a small liturgy in the Anglican church called the Blessing of a Civil Union. It's part of the Anglican Church's blanket amnesty for the godless. It was beautiful.

It was just close family, our eight and a half, half-year-old daughter, did the gospel reading, and my wife was eight months pregnant at the time with our second child. So it looked like a shotgun foul renewal. Like my father-in-law had said, you got my daughter pregnant again. Then dag-nabit, you will look her in the eyes and remember why you fell in love with her. That was my father-in-law's Hong Kong accent I was doing just that. Renewing vows is the perfect way for two people who love each other

to revisit a time in their lives when their relationship had a physical component. And just like your laptop and phone need updates, in order to bring you the only fan subscriptions that keep your marriage viable, your relationship does too. And if that makes me a hopeless, romantic, well, shoot. I barely had any hope to begin with.

Thank you. Charlie, Charley, DeMess, saying that it's a good idea to renew vows. He came out with a nice shout-out for the 20 years of debaters that we've been doing, and the crowd did not react at all. Now, here to tell us why she vows not to renew vows, let's hear from the one and only, Erica Sigurdson.

Whenever I see someone announce they're renewing their vows, I don't think, wow, they're really in love. Instead, I wonder who cheated. Getting an invitation to a vow renewal is like getting a two-year heads up on a divorce announcement. It's not romantic, it's foreshadowing. Never has the question, bride's side or groom's side, been more telling when choosing seats at a vow renewal ceremony. The only time I want to show up to witness a friend, proclaim their wedding vows for a second time is when they've had the decency to go through a messy divorce first.

Why else would you need to renew your vows? Is there any stronger promise than a vow? If you said you wanted to renew our vows, I would think you didn't really mean it in the first place. That first wedding was a sham. If your marriage has started to grow tired and your love for each other is waning, maybe try counseling before... Before sewing an extra panel in the back of your old wedding dress.

and asking your friends to give up a Saturday. Maybe the first time you got married, it was the classic, why buy the cow when you get the milk for free situation? And now you want to prove to everyone, you still love the milk, even though it's starting to go off, smells a bit funny, and has some weird lumps.

But you're a man of your word, and no matter how much you want to try oat milk, Or maybe almond milk or hell, maybe both of them at the same time. You convince yourself that renewing your vows will fix everything, even though it's pretty obvious you've become lactose intolerant. Thank you. Woo! Erica Sigerton, pulling no punches as usual.

Time now for the bare-knuckle round. We're debating married couples renewing their vows. So, since the honeymoon is over, it's time to smash your opponent's argument with a pledge hammer. Stick with jokes that are bright and true. But remember, there's always groom for improvement. Do I think you should begin now? I do.

Whenever I see someone announced their renewing their vows. I don't think, wow, oh, gosh, I just said that. Why would I say it again? Yeah, well, pretty good. That seems unanswerable. Except I will remind you, I have been married for 18 years. I was not listening. Also, I know you feel very clever with your whole lactose intolerance,

but as any man in here will tell you, you can take a pill for lactose intolerance. Earmuffs, young listeners, earmuffs. Yeah, earmuffs. Um. First of all, Charlie, good for you for seeking help. Also, I was surprised to hear about your vow renew. And what a way to find out I wasn't invited to your first wedding or your vow renewal.

Well, while we're talking about wedding ceremonies, like, I was wondering if, Erica, would you mind describing your wedding to the audience here in the theater and at home? Sure. I am in what is called a common-law marriage. So just to be clear, she never made the first set of vows. Okay, okay, Charlie. I want to be able to just lay that out. I didn't need the vows in the first place

because I don't need to renew it. Jay knows I still love him because I'm still there in the morning. That is my vow renewal. Also, why say the vows in the first place? That is a blank check. I am not willing to write. Anyway.

For better or for worse? He got COVID. I almost left. That's the bad up around, everybody. All right. That turned into courtroom drama in the middle of there. It's time now for the firing line. In my hand, I have a list of questions on renewing marriage vows

was brought to you by Vanna White's recommitment ceremony. She did, she renewed all her vowels. Well, Erica's left. Erica, that's it. That one, that one drove Erica. Steve, oh, you. You should have one, ready? Experts say if you want to renew your vows at a Disney property, you ought to what?

Charlie. Grow up. One official point. Erica. Reconsider. Right to the point. I like it. You need to book 10 to 16 months in advance.

That's just goofy. All right. According to Yellowknife's dash event designs and rentals, three musts when renewing vows are inviting people to the ceremony, figuring out the specifics, and what? Erica. Convincing yourself it will save your marriage. The crowd has given you one and a half points.

Charlie DeMeres. Consumation, consumation, consummation. He said with so much enthusiasm, I'm a little nervous out here. Inviting people to the ceremony, figuring out the civics, and hiring a professional planner. That is important. That's the information we got from a local professional planner. Finish this quote from author H. Jackson Brown Jr., A Successful Marriage is Like Farming. Propped up by the government.

Three and a half points. Charlie. It'll make you miss your hose. Four points, Charlie. A successful marriage is like farming. You have to start over again every morning. It's so weird. Also, it always smells weird after fertilization.

Okay. Last question. The knot.com has a list of 25 gifts for a vow renewal. What's number one? Charlie. String. You missed the first part of the question. That's actually quite a funny answer.

Let's start it again, Steve. Sure, yeah. Let's run it back. And really hit home the beginning of the question. You'll love this. Okay. See how a renewal can work? Here we go.

Yeah, here we go. Let's see. The knot.com. The knot.com has a list of 25 gifts for a vow renewal. What's number one? Erica Sigurtson. String! Stry!

Aye! Got it! Oh, Erica, what a great answer! String for the knot! Where did she get these ideas? The actual answer is an embroidered throw blanket, but no one cares. The firing line. It's over.

Oh, that was great. All right, it is almost that magical time when our Northern Arts and Cultural Center audience places their vote. But first, here again to tell us why, She thinks you should never redo I-do's. Let's hear again from Erica Sigurdson. Thank you. When has renewing anything been a fun idea?

Your passport? Your driver's license? Your marriage? Gross. Who gives the bride away at a vow renewal? Her parents already marched her down the aisle once. Now they just yell no takebacks. Put her wrinkled hand in yours?

A wedding has a gazebo, flowers, prime rib, and an extravagant wedding cake. Vow renewal? That's barbecued hot dogs and a tower of timbits. All served beside the old trampoline you couldn't sell on Facebook marketplace. Whether it's love or hockey, contract renewals can lead to difficult discussions. And you definitely know they've thought about trading you. Thank you. Erica Sigerson, with a comedy truth bomb

on why she's not written vows. Now, here to say, like golf, vows deserve a mulligan. Let's hear again from avid golfer and wordsmith. Charlie de Mance. Thank you. That's right. When it comes to this debate, I'm for... I've already made my case for vow renewals as expressions of love,

so let me say this. Renewing your vows is good for the GDP. It's one of the only parts of the economy safe from foreign interference. The only weddings Trump could realistically hit with tariffs are mail-order brides. And we all know he's not going to do that. Renewing pumps much-needed dollars into the local economy, flowers, reservations, AI vow generation software. Although be careful reciting any AI-generated poetry about your wife.

The stuff about her fingers is never quite right. If you're lucky, the day you got married was the best decision of your life. Renew that moment, because it was probably also the last time your spouse thinks you made any good decisions either. Thank you. Yeah. Charlie DeMeres, the romantic, says you should renew wedding vows. Erica Sigerson says the opposite. It is up to you to decide, audience.

by applause who thought that Charlie had style for re-walking the aisles. Charlie DeMerez. It's a lot of love, a lot of support there. And how many of you agreed with Erica saying, if you like it, put a ring on it, but only once. Erica Sigurdson. It is close. It is close.

But my producer, Nicole Callender, has given this one to Erica Sigerson. Don't renew your vows. Big hand for Erica Sigerson and Charlie DeVaris, everybody. You're listening to CBC's The Debaters. Want to be a part of the debating action? For upcoming tour dates, be sure to visit our website

at cvc.ca slash the debaters. There are two kinds of Canadians, those who feel something when they hear this music, And those who've been missing out so far, I'm Chris Howden. And I'm Neil Kuxel. We are the co-hosts of As It Happens. And every day we speak with people at the center of the day's most hard-hitting, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious news stories. Also, we have puns.

Here Why As It Happens is one of Canada's longest running in most beloved shows. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, Yellowknife, are you ready to meet your next pair of debaters? Listen to that, Canada. This comedian is obsessed with one of the Batman actors and can't explain his affliction. It's the Yukon's Gavin Clarkson. Gavin Clarkson. Hi there, Steve.

Hello, sir. Welcome back. Thank you. And this comedian is making his debaters debut. He finally gave up cop shows, then gave a CSI of relief. It's Yellow Knife's Quincy Thomas. Thomas! Come on out, Quincy! Thank you, Steve. Welcome, my friend.

Your topic is one that might hit close to home for some of you here. Living in the North, is it worth it? We are recording in beautiful Yellowknife in the Far North, but we could be even further north, making where we are the South. the south. And that makes where I'm from in Toronto the deep south, which makes America the deep, deep, deep south, which makes America's deep south the deep, deep, deep south. But the important thing is that their leader knows now that Canada remains the true north, strong and free. Now, it's time for a debate that will provide some northern exposure. So, whereas

it gives you access to the great outdoors, a different way of life and a strong sense of community, be it resolved that living in the North is worth it. Gavin, you are arguing for this, please. You have two minutes, starting now, Gavin Clarkson. Of course, living up North is worth it. I'm from Whitehorse, which isn't Yellowknife, and if you're from south of 60,

you're learning that for the first time. They shouldn't be so hard to tell apart, Canada. here's a fun, rhyming memory device to help. White is a horse, of course, of course, and yellow will stab you. The air is cleaner up here. The water is clearer up here. The people are friendlier up here.

And the weather! The air is cleaner up here. Did I mention that? And people are friendlier. strangers will greet you on the street. In contrast, in the city of Vancouver, making eye contact in an elevator is a criminal offense. The north is also the best place to see the northern lights.

Japanese tourists come here in droves under the idea that the next emperor will be conceived under these lights. And when was the last time a couple traveled halfway across the world to do it in Winnipeg? You can tell a lot about a place by the art it inspires. The most famous book of the North called the Wild by Jack London about a domesticated dog in the Yukon

returning to the freedom of nature. The most famous book of Ontario? Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale. Much different energy. And Alberta's favorite book comes with crayons. Finally, beyond everything else, 90% of Kanda's population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

Good luck with that. Thank you. Yeah. Gavin Clarkson, coming out swinging on behalf of the North. Thank you, Gavin. Now, here to tell us, when people say living in the North is great,

he's having Nunavut. There it is, there's my energy. Let's hear from Quincy Thomas. I grew up here in Yellowknife, the Hub of the North, and like everyone else with ambition, I fled south as soon as I finished high school. Now I've returned to tell you why it's

the best decision I ever made. I didn't realize what I'd been through growing up here until I got out, like growing up in a cult or a trailer park. It doesn't make any sense for humans to live in this unforgiving climate. It gets as cold as minus 40 in the winter, which is the point where Celsius equals Fahrenheit, so it's too cold to even bother arguing with Americans. There's nothing to do up here.

When I was in high school, our favorite activity was just driving around town. Even now when I visit, we do the same thing. Food options are so limited in the north that the most popular type of restaurant is convenience stores. Shout out to winks. Down south, I get to eat at ethnic restaurants that don't serve pizza. It was kind of tough growing up here as one of three black kids. Well, technically it was me and two Filipino kids with hot mixtapes, but I've got to take what you can get up here.

Everyone else in town actually knew more black people than I did, because they knew me. Like Gavin said, 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border, So they would rather live right next door to a country run by Bozo the Fascist Clown than live any further north. Thank you. All right. Yeah. Quincy Thomas, everybody, with his first opening argument for us.

It's time now for the bare knuckle round. We are debating living in the north. So, since this is a polar icing topic, it's time to try to try to. to seal the deal. You know, really get into it. You want to be the winner, not the iglooser. So come up with a well-thawed-out argument and steal your opponent's tundra.

Time's arcticing. So let's start now. don't care that there's a difference between white horse and yellow knife, but I can't blame them. When I was growing up, there's so few people here that we had to combine all three territories to put together a basketball team for nationals. Okay, fine. So the North were not known for sports, but Canada loves the North. Canada always wants more North. They wanted North so bad that they elected a kid from Fort Smith as their leader instead of a little peepee from Calgary.

Gavin, you said that the water is cleaner in the north, but I can drive 10 minutes from here and find a lake with a sign that says, do not go in here or you'll die because of our mine. Look, aside from water being clean, you mentioned how there isn't a big diversity of restaurants up here. And I think that's a great thing. It makes dating better because you're not there with your date, being distracted by a fancy restaurant with a confusing menu. You just sit there getting to know each other and slamming leader-sized thunder mugs

until the Boston pizza's romantic. You mentioned the Japanese tourists coming for the Northern Lights, but I also grew up with children conceived under the Northern Lights, and I'll tell you, they're not putting any of them. on the promotional materials. That's a good place to stop it. That's the bare knuckle round, everybody. What are we doing?

Like these nice people came here and it's just slam after slam! We are a comedy show, I should point that out. It's time now for the firing line. In my hand, I have a list of questions about living in the north, brought to you by North, North Face, which is what you get up here in winter

when you try to smile, but you can't move your face. The official city of Yellowknife website says, if you're considering moving to Yellowknife, you're likely what? Gavin? From Newfoundland. Yeah, okay. Strong point.

Quincy? Running from the law. It says you're likely. looking for work or you've been offered a job so close enough quincy one point cbc.ca's article seven myths about living in canada's north includes the myths that the landscape is all snow that there's no fresh food and what other myth Gavin yellow knife and white horse for the same town yes yes two points two points uh the landscapes all snow there's no fresh food the other myth is uh that that there's no good music up north.

I didn't do it! I know there's good music here! If Welder's daughter's out there, I love Welder's daughter. I do. I do. The official Northwest Territory's government website boasts that the territory has 11 what? Gavin?

Possible Tinder matches. Three points, and two of them are related. Yes. Quincy. From my research, I'd say $11. No, 11 official languages. That is impressive to me. I think that's worth something.

That is our firing line, everybody. It is almost that magical time when our Northern Arts and Cultural Center audience places their vote. But first, here again to tell us why, when it comes to living in the North, he says, Snow Way, it's Quincy Thomas. I say that North is a great place to be from.

Not a great place to be. I appreciate living down south. so much more now because my expectations are so low. It doesn't make any sense to endure this icebox unless you're running from the law or your family. But if that's the case, Vancouver Island would happily welcome you with fresh vegetables and cannabis.

And to my fellow Northerners, I think there's room on my flight tomorrow if anyone wants to join me. Thank you. Quincey time. Thomas, Quincy Thomas, from the North, but he's against living here. Now, here to tell us why he'd love to see his name in Northern Lights. Let's hear again from Gavin Clarkson.

Living up north is harder. It is one of the most isolated places in the world. But from that isolation spawns a sense of community greater than anywhere else on the planet. We are a resourceful people rich in resource. resources. Everyone here has a chest freezer full of trout or a meat locker full of bears, which in Vancouver means something very different. Confusing ad I responded to. Being born and raised in the North is such a unique privilege that so few people get to claim.

It is my greatest honor to be from the North of 60, and Canada know that when we stand on guard for thee, there is no true north, truer. Thank you. Yeah, Gavin Clarkson. Strong closing argument and a hint for the authorities. Thank you, Gavin. All right, audience, it is up to you to decide by applause

who agreed with Quincy when he gave the Arctic the cold shoulder Quincy Thomas. Okay, lots of nice local love for Quincy there. And who thought that Gavin talking up the North was the right direction? Gavin Clarkson. Wow, the audience has spoken, and the winner is Gavin Clarkson. It long live the North. Big hand for Gavin Clarkson.

And Quincy Thomas, everybody. Well, that's all for this week. I'm Steve Patterson saying nothing parallels being far north of the 49th parallel. I'll argue with you again soon, Canada. Night. The Debaters is created by Richard Side. This week's episode was produced by Nicole Callender, Chloe Edbrook, Dean Jenkinson,

and Graham Clark, with continuity by Graham Clark, Diana Francis, and Gary Jones. Technical production by James Porella and Corey Haberstock. Story editing by Graham Clark. With special thanks to Katie Ellen Humphreys, David Pride, and Emily Ferrier. Executive producer of CBC Radio Comedy is Lee Pitts. And thanks to everyone at the Northern Arts and Cultural Center in Yellowknife.

For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.ca slash podcasts.